Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Experience exceptional mental health treatment with the dedicated and skilled team at Transitions Counseling and Consulting. 

Our accredited outpatient services include a full range of treatment options for children, teens, and adults, ensuring you can receive continuous care from the same compassionate team as your needs change.

people in a group therapy intensive outpatient program supporting each other

Teen and Adult IOPs

Convenient Locations and Scheduling

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are highly effective and structured treatment options designed to provide comprehensive care and support for both teens and adults facing mental health challenges. With a focus on flexibility and convenience, IOPs offer therapy sessions after school and work hours, allowing individuals to receive the care they need while maintaining their daily routines. Our IOPs are in accessible locations and are designed to bring treatment closer to those in need, ensuring easy access to support.

Comprehensive Support

At the core of an intensive outpatient program is an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including therapists, social workers, care coordinators, and other specialists, who collaborate to deliver a holistic approach to healing. The program’s structured and intensive nature goes beyond traditional therapy alone, providing a higher level of support and intervention. This makes IOPs particularly beneficial for individuals who experience persistent or progressive symptoms despite therapy, allowing for a more concentrated and targeted approach to their mental health needs.

Personal Growth and Resilience

Whether it is for teens or adults, an intensive outpatient program offers a range of advantages. Participants receive specialized therapy, group support, and psychoeducation tailored to their specific needs, helping them develop coping skills, emotional regulation techniques, and healthier relationships. The structured environment and supportive community foster personal growth, resilience, and a sense of belonging. By providing an inclusive and convenient treatment option, IOPs empower individuals and offer hope for lasting recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Program Reference Guide

Mental Health Levels-of-Care at Transitions

Therapy involves regular sessions with a mental health professional to address emotional and psychological concerns, typically on an outpatient basis. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) offers a higher level of care with more frequent and intensive therapy sessions, often in a group setting, while
still allowing individuals to live at home. Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) provide a more structured level of care than IOPs, involving full-day treatment and psychiatry support, while inpatient hospitalization or residential care offers 24-hour supervision and care within a hospital or residential facility for individuals with acute mental health needs.

Transitions Counseling offers multiple levels-of-care in one place, allowing you to receive comprehensive treatment, therapy, psychiatric support, and specialized programs tailored to your unique needs, fostering continuity, convenience, and holistic well-being.

IOP Treatment Typically Features

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Group therapy sessions
  • Expressive art therapy
  • Family therapy and involvement
  • Access to parent support group
  • Evidence-based assessments to guide treatment
  • Referral access to in-house, experienced psychiatry providers
  • Easily transition to other levels of supportive care as your needs change

Intensive Outpatient Program FAQs

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) offers a range of benefits for individuals seeking mental health support. One significant advantage is the opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar challenges. Through group therapy sessions and shared experiences, participants can learn from one another, gain valuable insights, and develop a supportive community. This sense of camaraderie and understanding can be invaluable in the healing process, promoting a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation. Additionally, the IOP structure provides a structured and supportive environment where adults can learn from each other’s experiences, develop coping skills, and build resilience together, fostering personal growth and empowering individuals on their journey to improved mental well-being.

Absolutely! We understand the importance of accessible and affordable care, which is why we are proud to be in-network with a wide range of insurance plans. You can utilize your insurance coverage for an intensive outpatient program (IOP) at our facility, ensuring that you receive the comprehensive care you need without financial burden. Additionally, we offer specialty plans for individuals with high-cost deductibles, providing additional options and financial assistance to make quality mental health treatment accessible to all. Your well-being is our priority, and we are committed to working with you to navigate insurance coverage and make the IOP experience as seamless and affordable as possible.

Therapy involves regular sessions with a mental health professional to address emotional and psychological concerns, providing support, guidance, and exploring thoughts and emotions. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a higher level of care that offers a structured and intensive treatment approach, including more frequent therapy sessions, often in a group setting, and additional support services. Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) provide even more structured care than IOPs, typically involving weekly psychiatry and daily therapy and support. Psychiatry, on the other hand, focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders through medication management, psychiatric evaluation, and monitoring.

Scheduling for an intensive outpatient program (IOP) is quick and convenient. You have multiple options to schedule an appointment: you can book online through our user-friendly booking system, send us a message via our website to request an appointment, or simply give us a call. We understand the importance of timely access to care, and that’s why we are in-network with most insurance plans, eliminating the need for out-of-network approvals or single case agreements. We also offer specialized plans for high deductible costs. This streamlined process ensures that we can promptly provide the care your teen needs without unnecessary delays.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) at Transitions Counseling offers a focused course of treatment that leads to rapid mental health recovery. In terms of hours of therapy, attending an IOP is similar to 1 year’s worth of hours of individual therapy. It’s meant to help speed recovery when you can’t wait a year to start feeling better.

Accredited and Committed to Quality

Transitions Counseling is one of the few outpatient mental health clinics in Arizona to undergo a voluntary and rigorous accreditation process with The Joint Commission. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to the highest standards of client safety and clinical quality.

Program Schedule

IOPs typically involve 3 hours of therapy per day, 3 days per week, usually for a total of 12 weeks, but can be extended if necessary. Attending each group session is important because increased attendance in IOPs has been correlated with improvements in mental health symptoms, quality of life, and community functioning.

What do you learn at an intensive outpatient program?

These programs help people learn skills to manage their mental health symptoms, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and improve their overall functioning. By using a group setting, IOPs also provide support and accountability that can help people stay on track with their treatment goals.

Focuses on CBT & DBT

The twelve week program focuses on the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), includes group therapy sessions, and offers a parent group that teaches support strategies. During the program, individual counseling sessions may also be recommended. DBT is a structured treatment that focuses on teaching individuals skills to effectively manage their emotions and behaviors, cope with stress, and improve relationships with others. DBT has been shown to be effective at reducing suicide attempts and self-harming behavior, while improving depression and anxiety.

Includes Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions take place three times per week for a total of about twelve weeks. Despite the fact that most people naturally feel nervous about the prospect of group-based treatments, most people find that they actually prefer groups after trying them out. For more information, see our group therapy page. 

Offers a Weekly Group for Parents

We offer a weekly group for parents so that they can also learn the skills being introduced in treatment to help support their child in practicing these skills outside formal appointments. Our weekly parent group is also an opportunity for parents to receive support themselves during this process. 

Our Intensive Outpatient Programs

At Transitions Counseling, we offer intensive outpatient programs for different stages of life across our locations and via telehealth. Groups include:

  • Pre-Adolescent (ages 10-13) 
  • Adolescent (ages 14-17)
  • College Age/Early Career Adults
  • Mid-Career Adults
  • Late-Career/Post-Career Adults

IOPs can be an effective treatment option for many people struggling with mental health issues. These programs can help people to learn how to manage their symptoms and live healthier, happier lives. If you or someone you love is in the middle of a mental health crisis, contact our team at Transitions Counseling today for more information on how our intensive outpatient programs can help you.

How We Can Help You

We tailor treatment to fit your unique needs. Our team offers the full continuum of outpatient therapy services for the whole family. This means you can work with the same team as your treatment needs change over time.